A week later Violet walked in the cafeteria, slapping a paper down on the table; "well that's going to be the last party at my parents mcmansion!"

Patty and Sally jumped back from her.

"What's this," Linus grabbed the paper, "… you've been emancipated?"

"Yep. Mom, was charged with child abuse, too, for what she was doing to me, since my Dad got arrested. And all of our family back in Arkansas, so it was kinda open and shut."

"Where are you gonna live," Charlie wondered.

"I hadn't thought about it, yet."

"Me, Vee. Live with us, I know my mom would love to have you, and you said it yourself," Patty concernedly spoke.

"You think your mom would actually let me?"

"Duh! We have that guest bedroom, and my Mom loves you! You're practically my sister, anyway," she beamed.

"I thought Trish was your sister," Schroeder asked.

"Really, man," Peppermint Patty held her hands up.

"How are they sisters," Sally questioned.

"They're the Patty twins," Linus laughed.

"I thought we were done with that," Peppermint Patty held her forehead.

"Oh yeah… they're both Patricia," she mused.

"So, I'll text my Mom right now."

"Hey, that'll save you from having to find a place," Charlie added.

"We don't have room for all of your stuff, but at least you'll have a room and food, if you don't mind my crazy Mom."

"Your mom makes me laugh."

"Are you ready for them yelling at each other all day," Frieda asked. "Patty, Violet; your friends are here! Violet, move your car," she screeched.

"Sounds just like her," Lucy laughed.

"It's not that bad," she laughed.

"You and Linus bet not be fucking up there," Linus mocked.

"Stop it guys," Patty wiped tears.

"Sounds like a house full of love," Violet said.

"Franklin's here, don't be fucking, you a guest in this house," Franklin mocked.

Everybody laughed.

"Your mom is cool, Patty, be in there smoking weed," Franklin added.

"She is pretty cool, huh?"

"At least your house was a good practice spot for the band, it was fun while it lasted," Charlie said.

"Everybody is great as expected. I just gotta get Trish better at reading sheet music, and we need to figure out what song we're going to do at the talent show- one of the originals, or a cover," Schroeder said.

"What about that Torn mashup thing we did," Lucy wondered.

"Yeah, I like that one," Marcie agreed.

"Let's do it," Charlie agreed.

"Yeah," Franklin agreed.

"Well there's that, then," Schroeder hugged Frieda's waist.

"My mom said you can live with us," Patty cheered.

"Great, great, I hope this works out, Patty."


"You sure it'll be okay with her living with you," Linus wondered, walking Patty to class.

"She's stayed over a lot until her mom was locked up, and we've spent the night over each others houses."

"Yeah, but that's different than living with somebody. My experience with Lucy is vastly different than you girls having sleepovers. You don't truly know somebody until you live with them."

"Violet is more easy going, than she usually comes off, I know some of the things she doesn't like, I know she lives different than me… all we can do is try, at least she'll have her own room. Hopefully if it gets bad, we can figure something out to save our friendship."

"At least you have your concerns. I don't want you hurt, blinded, looking through rose tinted glasses."

"Don't worry, Liney-poo," she kissed him. "See you at lunch."

"Love you."

"I love you, too."


"It's amazing we had time to squeeze in some band practice, with everything else going on," Charlie said.

"I know, right? I was happy when we were able to practice together," Franklin agreed.

"We need to get you on vocals, Franklin," Lucy added.

"I've been slowly, slowly, working on some stuff, here and there."

"You sound like me," Charlie chuckled.

"Right… I'll catch you ninjas later," he split off.

"This'll basically be our, like, first gig, Lu-Lu."

"I'm excited, and I want you to be confident, we've been working hard."

"You're by my side," he held her hand, "what do I need to worry about? We do good, or we bomb, either way; we keep going."

"Fuckin' aye, Babe, that's right! Even if we don't win the talent show, that's not our end goal."

"Of course not- it's a premier," he smiled.


"Ms. Gray, I was wondering how you were doing," Mr. Wilkinson stopped her in the hall.

"I'm doing great, sir, and I've got good news."

"Oh, what's that," he walked with her.

"My emancipation was finalized! Other than a few things to do with that, I don't think I'll need to deal with my Mom, much, anymore," she beamed.

"Well congratulations, young lady. That's a big thing to deal with, you're ultimately responsible for yourself. Do you know where you're going to live?"

"Patty's mom said I could move in with them, but I probably won't be able to take everything with me- most of it is clothes…"

"I'm not surprised," he chuckled.

"I was thinking I could bring some of it here, for donations?"

"You can do that, it would be a big help, for impoverished people."

"I'm almost sad I gotta leave my Dads Maserati, but I'll at least have my Benz back, though I'm thinking about selling it; depending on what happens to the company. I think they want to get rid of my parents, but I don't know how they feel about me."

"I hope that works out in your favor, as well," he smiled, "best be off to class, before you're late."

"Yes sir," she strutted away.


"Hey, Sally; can I talk to you?"

"Pig Pen… what do you want," she turned akimbo.

"I uh… was wondering if you were seeing anybody?"

Sally scrunched her eyebrows at him, "why?"

"I wanna go out with you."

"Why?"

"I think you're pretty, Sally, and I've been thinking about asking you out."

"Me," she stared at him.

"Just one date. If you don't like it, I won't bother you anymore. Please?"

"I'll think about it, Pig Pen," she sighed.


"So, when do you wanna move in, beastie," Patty plopped down at the lunch table.

"You just can't wait, can you," Violet grinned.

"Nope."

"With some help; we can start moving stuff today, I'm pretty happy about it, plus I don't like staying in that house by myself."

"What about all those servants you talk about," Charlie asked.

"Servants…? We have people that clean and stuff, but they aren't actually servants, or live there."

"Ah, okay."

"Me and Chuck could carry a few loads of stuff, for sure," Peppermint Patty blurted.

"Yeah, after school, between us and Franklin, we can probably carry everything," Charlie added.

"Okay guys, but I need to sort through stuff, first, calm down, ninjas," she laughed.

"Okay, so we'll help you sort through yer junk, and then we'll load it all up!"

"Sure Trish, let's do that. You and your friends, Charlie."

"They're your friends, too, Vee," Lucy smiled.

"You're not alone, as long as we've all known each other; we're family," Patty hugged her.

"I'll try my best, to not over stay my welcome, Patty," she hugged back.

"It's settled, then; after school we'll help her sort through her stuff, and load up my, Trish, and Franklins cars and get Vee to her new home," Charlie leaned back in his chair.

"Where you going to put the stuff that doesn't fit, Bae?"

"Donate it… put some in storage